How To Know If You’re Ready To Travel Solo

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If you’re reading this, you’re probably on the fence about travelling solo for the first time. I’ve been there!

But before I begin, I want to commend you for even having the thought. It is a daunting and scary thought to leave everything behind to travel. Even thinking about the idea is brave! 

The truth is, travelling solo for the first time is a big thing. Especially if you’re planning on travelling long term (4 weeks +).  

It’s one of the reasons why not everyone around you is doing it. It takes guts!

So how do you know if you’re ready to take the plunge and travel solo?

Well, start by reading my pointers for travelling solo below. How much do they resonate with you? 

🧍‍♀️This guide is written with long term solo travellers in mind, but it applies to anyone deciding whether or not they want to jet off around the world (with or without a friend, partner, family member etc.) 

🌎 If you make it to the end of the post, I speak about my thoughts on travelling for the first time and how to know if you’re ready. It might help to hear someone who’s been in the same boat as you talk about it!

Thinking of travelling for the first time? You need to check out my first-timer travel hub!

First-time travel hub:

• Tips for Travelling Abroad for the First Time
• 14 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Travelled
• Why You Might NOT ‘Find Yourself’ Whilst Travelling
• Tips for Staying in Hostels: A First Timer’s Guide
• Tips for First Time Flyers (+ Solo Travel Advice!)
• Backpacking Essentials & Packing List (+ Downloadable Checklist!)

How to know if you’re ready to travel solo

Most importantly: you’re ready to completely and unceremoniously be pushed out of your comfort zone!

Nomadic Matt’s undeniably best quote. It is SO true!

Ok, ok, it’s not like you’re going off to fight for your country, but solo travel IS a huge step out of your comfort zone. Even if you’re travelling with someone else!

You’re going to be pushed out of your comfort zone whether you like it or not. 

Personally, I think travel pushing me out of my comfort zone has made me the person I am today.

From things going wrong, near-death experiences (especially if you’re starting off in Southeast Asia 😂), unexpected experiences, unbelievable tiredness, facing fears, meeting new people and everything in between. 

I always remember when I travelled with my best friend, Matt, we used to compare travel to a genuine rollercoaster (cliche, I know). We’d sit in our bedroom in Melbourne and just ask ourselves, what the hell am we doing?!

One day you’re having the time of your life on the back of a quad bike through the jungle. The next you’re sitting on your bedroom floor crying because you’ve broken your phone, lost your passport or not made any friends or met anyone to connect with.

It’s a constant train of ups and downs. And anyone who tells you it isn’t is lying.

Saying that, the majority of your trip will be life-changing. And again, I know I’m being cliche, but it’s true. 

You’ll find out more about yourself than ever before, and you’ll learn why you act certain ways in difficult situations. It’s a learning curve, that’s for sure!

So before you travel solo, ask yourself;

Am I ready to be totally and utterly thrown out of my comfort zone?

If the answer is yes, you’re on to a good start.

😀 ALL of my first-timer travel tips can be read HERE!

You have an overwhelming need to travel that just won’t go away

This is a super important one.

Listen to your gut.

Travelling is a BIG thing. How much do you really want it?

Is it just because you’ve seen a highlight reel on Instagram of someone sitting on a Bali swing and you fancy doing it to?

Or, do you have that all-consuming, burning desire to travel (aka, the travel bug) that just won’t go away, no matter what? 

If you do, you’re going to have to forfeit a bit back home. (Missing birthdays, engagements, weddings, oh and pushing your OWN life back on hold), but if you have that burning feeling, none of this will matter once you’re there.

However, if you DON’T have this feeling, and you just want some cute insta snaps and want to see a bit more of the world, have a think.

Do you want to be away from your loved ones for a substantial amount of time?

Or do you actually just want to book more holidays/trips and see more of the world?

The second is TOTALLY ok as well! There aren’t many places in the world that you can’t visit for a 2-3 week holiday.

Asia and America are totally accessible for short term trips, even Oceania! Yes, the flight may be longer, but you don’t have to quit your job and move away from all of your loved ones to see these parts of the world.

But, you may be the opposite. Like I was, perhaps. I knew I wanted to travel for a long time and be away from England, and spend months travelling to new places. I had the burning desire (and still do).

Decide which one you are before you gear yourself up for a 6 month or year-long trip. 

✈️ Flying solo for the first time? Check out my tips here!

You have enough money to at least get started 

(Ideally some for when you’re back, but hey, that’s not as important)

It’s no secret: travel is EXPENSIVE.

Even if you’re planning on using all shared dorm rooms (which hopefully you are!), then you’re going to need a fair bit of cash.

Some continents/countries are cheaper, but you’re going to need a few thousand to get you started (unless you’re planning on working straight away). 

When you counter in flights, accommodation, visas, vaccines, insurance, activities, food, drink…it adds up! Are you willing to spend this much money on travel?

For me, absolutely. Ask me to pay £10 for a cocktail in London? No way. I have always been prepared to forfit everything to be able to travel.

Unless you’re in a good financial situation, you’re going to need to sacrifice quite a bit to travel long term. 

But, if you have that ‘burning feeling’ I keep referring to, this won’t be a problem.

If I’m honest, I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been saving for travel. My entire adult life I’ve had travel saving pots. It’s just a part of my life, and I’m totally ok with that.

💰 Looking for ways to save for travel? I’ve written about my favourite ways here!

You have to be ok with roughing it

Slightly linking with the last point, you HAVE to be ok with roughing it sometimes.

Unless you have an unlimited pot of money, you’re going to have to rough it on transport, accommodation and even food. 

Of course, not all the time, but if you want to keep going for 6 months +, you’re going to have to hold back on fancy hotel rooms.

Ask yourself:

• Am I ok with sharing a room with strangers?
• Am I ok with losing all privacy?
• Will I be ok to sleep on overnight buses/trains?
• Can I cook in a possibly unclean kitchen that is shared with 100+ other people?

Again for me, the answer to all of these is yes. Yes yes yes. If I can travel, absolutely yes.

You NEED that burning desire to travel to overcome all of these things. And if you have it, these things are pretty easy.

🌎 Backpacking for the first time? You’re in the right place! Check out my essential travel kit for EVERY type of trip, big or small!

You’re ready to have total independence and 100% freedom of choice

And I mean, totaaaaal freedom.

Travelling solo is a whole new world of independence. 

Want to stay in bed all day? No probs, no one here to check in on you.

Want to climb a mountain tomorrow? Sure. You don’t need to ask anyone what they want to do.

Decided you don’t like a location and want to move on? Sure, you do you!

When travelling solo, YOU are totally in control of what you do and when. And I think that’s pretty cool.

🎒Need a backpack? Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips or when you need more than a carry-on!

You’re willing to mix with people from all different cultures, backgrounds, nationalities and personality types

When you’re travelling solo, you’re going to need to meet people, otherwise, you’re going to have a pretty lonely time.

However, everyone you meet on the road isn’t going to be your ‘cup of tea’. You’re going to meet people you don’t gel with. You’re going to meet people from all walks of life, and some that you’re totally unfamiliar with. 

But let me tell you a little secret.

The people are the best part about travelling.

Forget the scenery, the mountains, the ocean, the hot air balloon rides, the spotting of dolphins – yes, they’re incredible! But they don’t have a thing on the people you will meet and the bonds you will make.

Sharing these experiences with your new friends (or partner) is the BEST part of travel, and the memories you’ll remember the most.

You’ll remember the roommate who took you for a coffee when you were feeling homesick.

The group of backpackers you partied on the beach with until 6am.

Or the Thai family who welcomed you into their home for a homestay.

You form strange bonds with people when you travel, that just doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.

My best best best memories of travel happened when I met the people I gelled the most with. Not the scenery, or the beaches or the trees. The people.

And these people weren’t all from the same background or country as me – I had friends travelling that were 8 years younger and 10 years older! 

Anything goes and you open yourself to a world of mixing and meeting everyone and anyone.

And it’s bloody amazing!

You’re ready to learn a lot about yourself (and have a lot of time to think)

Travelling solo inevitably means you’re going to speed some time alone. Even if it’s just the plane journey.

Are you ok with this? Are you ok with having time to think, a lot of time with just yourself for company? 

Having a healthy mindset and outlook on life will benefit you in the long run if you travel solo.

Don’t expect travel to solve all of your problems (it absolutely won’t) and be prepared for some serious ‘me time’. 

You’re ok with things going wrong 

You could be the best travel planner in the world and still have things go wrong. 

Things will go wrong, ALL the time.

You have to be open to this. 

You have at least a little bit of sense/responsibility for planning and booking (especially post-pandemic times)

Even if you’re a spontaneous kind of traveller, you’re still going to need to take a bit of responsibility for yourself and your travels. 

Not everything will fall into your lap, and if you’re travelling solo, it’s going to take a bit of time and prep to get ready to leave.

In a post-pandemic world, you have even more to look at with new rules and entry requirements. 

It’s all fun and games saying you’ve “booked a one-way flight to Bangkok with nothing else planned”, but then if you’re stopped at border control for not having a visa, or can’t find somewhere to sleep that night as everywhere’s fully booked, you’re going to regret that decision, aren’t you?

Book at LEAST your first night of arrival.

Check how to get from the airport to your first hostel. 

You will need to have somewhat of a level head to make it work.

Check out more of my first-time travel tips here.

You’re ok with relationships back home being harder to maintain

This one is a tough one.

Sadly, relationships back home (if you’re travelling long term) will become more distant. You have to accept that other people have their own lives, and aren’t waiting around for you whilst you’re exploring another continent.

Time difference is a tough one, and it can be hard to speak to friends and family back home. 

I’ll be honest, when I moved to Australia and was away from England for 15 months, I did lose some friends. This wasn’t mine or their fault, but just the fact we had grown apart, and time had passed. We all had our own busy lives, and some (some) relationships whilst travelling will fade.

All you can do is try. You’ll realise pretty quickly how important people are to you back home, and you’ll realise how unimportant others are (least offence given). 

The people you still want to ring and Facetime when you’re with your new pals drinking beer on the beach are the ones that matter.

🍻 Check out my guide to making friends in hostels here!

You’re ok with spending money

You’ve done the hard work saving it, now you need to realise it’s actually there to be spent!

I know having 5k or 10k in your bank can look so appealing, and you just don’t want to touch it, especially for things like visas and insurance. 

But you’re travelling the world! If I’m honest, you’ll probably need every penny of it. You have to be ok with spending it!

Be ok with spending £500 on a bucket list experience. Or eating £1 street food so you can skydive over the Great Barrier Reef.

Yeah, this was never a problem of mine. That money is gone in a heartbeat when I’m on the road.

You’re ok with putting a stop to your career/life for a while 

If you’re travelling long term, you have to come to terms with the fact that your life back home will come to a halt for a while.

Whether it’s your career, studies, or relationship; it’s going to need to pause. 

Unless you’re travelling FOR work, you’re going to have to take a step back and let that pass you by for a while.

Make sure you’re ok with that!

Want to know some truths about travel? I’ve written an honest-no-bullshit post about the things I wish I had known before I went. Check it out here.

My personal thoughts on solo travel

I’ve experienced solo travel and travelling with a friend and with a boyfriend. They’re all very different experiences.

My solo travel days are probably over for now (apart from the odd work trip), but I still recommend it to anyone who wants to step out of their comfort zone and push themselves.

But, I do also highly recommend travelling with a partner or friend. There is honestly nothing better than sharing all of these experiences with someone you love. 

I know now if I travelled without my boyfriend Tom, I’d spend so much time on Facetime trying to show him what I was experiencing, I might as well just do it with him!

But if you’re starting out, solo travel is incredible. The people you meet, the experiences you have, even the holiday romances – it’s an amazing way to see the world and grow as a person. I couldn’t recommend it enough.

If you are still feeling a bit unsure, my biggest tip to any new solo traveller is to BOOK A GROUP TOUR. Even if it’s for 4 days! 

Group tours not only take ALL the pressure off of organising everything, but they guarantee you make friends and meet people. I am the hugest advocate of group travel, and I don’t know what I would have done without it!

(Even if you go solo after, at least you now know the country and a few people there!)

How to know if you’re ready to travel solo: In a Nutshell

I really hope this post has helped you to decide whether you’re ready to travel solo or not.

Like I said at the start, it is a BIG thing. It’s scary!

BUT, it will always (and I can promise this) be the best decision you will ever make. Even if you end up hating the country or miss home, the fact that you TRIED, and did it alone, will change your life forever.

⚠️⚠️ Oooh, but just be warned, once you start – you won’t want to stop. The travel bug is real.

Ticking that one country off your list will only lead to wanting to see another. It doesn’t end (I’d be a lot richer if it did).

But I’d say travel is a good addiction to have, right?

Let me know if you enjoyed this post either on Instagram or in the comments below, as I’d love to hear from you and your travel thoughts!

Happy travelling!

Jennie 🙂 x

First-time travel hub:

• Tips for Travelling Abroad for the First Time
• 14 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Travelled
• Why You Might NOT ‘Find Yourself’ Whilst Travelling
• Tips for Staying in Hostels: A First Timer’s Guide
• Tips for First Time Flyers (+ Solo Travel Advice!)
• Backpacking Essentials & Packing List (+ Downloadable Checklist!)

Hey you! 🙋‍♀️ I quit my job in 2021 to become a full-time travel blogger + visit as much of the globe as possible. Come and join me on my chaotic and hilarious travel journeys!

📷 Instagram: @jennie_wanders

🎥 Youtube Channel: Jennie Wanders 

📍Pinterest: Jennie Wanders Travel Blog